Follow us on Google Discover Smylie Kaufman believes that Jordan Spieth’s game is well-rounded enough for the three-time major champion to be a success again on the PGA Tour.
While he has not won in more than four years, the 2026 season was potentially the most alarming yet for Spieth.
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The 33-year-old failed to make it past the first FedEx Cup playoff event, while he failed to register a single top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this year.
Previously, Spieth has dealt with a wrist injury. However, he underwent surgery after the 2024 season and has seemingly not had any serious issues since.
So it is worrying that the Texan has not been able to really contend at any event this year.
Jordan Spieth is facing a huge year in his PGA Tour career
It is nine years since Spieth’s most recent major victory. Meanwhile, he has not represented Team USA since enduring a terrible week at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Nevertheless, Smylie Kaufman believes that there is still a chance for Spieth to rediscover some of his best form.
Speaking on The Smylie Show, Kaufman spoke about the size of the task facing Spieth heading into 2027 on the PGA Tour.
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He said: “I think we’ve got a sample size of the last three years of, okay this is kind of who he is right now in the game of golf, which is a player who is fully capable of having good stats but not necessarily getting the results, and I think next year, I think it’s kind of a put up or shut up year for him to define, ‘I am more than just a player who can give you three out of four good days’. I think for him it’s a matter of can you play maybe a fraction less and get more out of your results and kind of get back to that dog that we know he can be?
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“I know he wants to be on these teams, it kills him to not be on these teams because he has one of the best American records in all of these formats. It would be great to get him back on these teams.
“It’s a huge year for him in the fact that he’s already starting from behind the eight ball, being 52nd, in the signature events, just outside. He’s going to be having to play his way in the Next 10 like he’s done this past year, relying on a sponsor’s invite here and there to start the year. And remember, you’ve got to finish 90th in 2027 so you can’t have a year where it’s like, ‘oh c—p, we realised the stuff we needed to change middle of the year. This isn’t working’. You’ve got to show up to 2027 ready to rock and roll.
“When you look at his stat profile, he’s got a pentagon, it’s just not wide enough. He’s got all the things that Scottie has, but Scottie’s is so wide in each category. Not many guys have that. He really doesn’t show any weaknesses. It’s a matter of can you be consistent enough to not have the outliers and the outlier days. For him, that’s going to be what 2027 is all about.”
Jordan Spieth’s strokes gained rankings on the PGA Tour in 2026
It is quite something to compare Spieth with Scottie Scheffler. Obviously, he is not saying that Spieth is on the same level at the moment, but it is still a surprise to hear Kaufman’s praise.
Scheffler can undoubtedly be considered an all-rounder. He is inside the top eight in every single strokes gained category this season.
Spieth, on the other hand, is 40th for strokes gained putting. Meanwhile, he is outside the top 70 on tour for strokes gained off the tee, approach, and around the green.
Strokes gained categoryScottie Scheffler’s PGA Tour rank (2026)Jordan Spieth’s PGA Tour rank (2026)Off the tee5th73rdApproach2nd70thAround the green8th78thTee to green1st65thPutting6th40thTotal1st47th
You can understand Kaufman’s suggestion that there is not an obvious weakness. But unfortunately, every part of his game seems to be a level below that elite tier right now.
Perhaps it is a sign that the foundations are now in place for Spieth to make a charge in the future. However, you would be forgiven for looking at the numbers and thinking that he has simply lost the magic that made him one of the most exciting players of his generation.
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